IS OUR BAPTISM WORKING?

Galatians 3:27 NKJV

27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

WHERE BAPTISM IS EFFECTIVE WHAT WILL BE IN FOCUS?

OUR UNITY TO CHRIST.

1 Peter 3:21–22 NKJV

21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

1 Peter 3:21–22 NKJV

21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

1 PE

AND WHAT SHALL BE THE EFFECT?

[21] - A GOOD CONSCIENCE TOWARDS GOD, THROUGH THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.

IN THE OT THERE ARE THREE INSTANCES WHERE GOD SAVED MEN THROUGH WATER AND EACH HAS SOMETHING TO TEACH US ABOUT OUR BAPTISM;

2 Peter 2:5 NKJV

5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;

SAVED OUT FROM UNDER THE JUDGMENT OF GOD.

1 Corinthians 10:1–13 NKJV

1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

SAVED OUT FROM THE WORLD. BAPTISM INTO THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST.

REPENTANCE.

EGYPT IS A TYPE OF THE WORLD AND BONDAGE.

Joshua 3:10 NKJV

10 And Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Hivites and the Perizzites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Jebusites:

AND THIS WAS THE SIGN;

Joshua 3:11–14 NKJV

11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over before you into the Jordan. 12 Now therefore, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from every tribe. 13 And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, the waters that come down from upstream, and they shall stand as a heap.” 14 So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people,

FAITH IN THE WORK OF HOLY SPIRIT, AS WE MAINTAIN OUR FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.

IT IS HE WHO LEADS US INTO OUR NEW LIFE WITH CHRIST. A LIFE OF FAITH AND OBEDIENCE.

A LIFE OF LIBERTY, FREEDOM FROM SIN.

Galatians 4:3 NKJV

3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.

WHAT ELSE WILL BE IN FOCUS?

The Nature of the World;

Galatians 6:14–15 NKJV

14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

The world is under the judgment of God. Hence there is a need to be separated from it.

What is True Religion;

The “in the World” is called in Scripture ‘Bondage’

Galatians 4:3 NKJV

3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.

gal 4:3; 9-10

Galatians 4:9–10 NKJV

9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years.

Deuteronomy 5:6 NKJV

6 ‘I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

What does it mean that Our Baptism is working? WE WILL KNOW THAT WE ARE FREE FROM THE BONDAGE OF THE WORLD. FOR IF YOU ARE RIGHTEOUS IN CHRIST THE KEEPING OF DAYS WILL NOT TAINT OR DIMINISH YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. NOTHING THE WORLD OFFERS CAN MAKE YOU TO FEEL LESS.

Colossians 2:8–10 NKJV

8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

What is in the world?

What danger does it pose?

Philosophy and Empty Deceit these are according to the traditions of men, the Basic principles of the world.

Means by which men may be cheated.

From these men must be separated.

Baptism is a reminder of that which we have been separated, so that we might serve the Lord.

1 Timothy 6:20 NKJV

20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—

Colossians 2:11–23 NKJV

11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. 20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

When we read the record of everything that God has done for us, we recognize that nothing further is needed.

Do you not know that you death in Christ separated you from the world?

These are not essential to religion. They are not an essential or a by product of truth upon the human heart.

Therefore, they have no power over the believer.

Hence, we need to be separated from it’s ineffectual means of salvation.

TRUE RELIGION;

Colossians 2:1–5 NKJV

1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

Colossians 2:1–3 NKJV

1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Galatians 5:14–15 NKJV

14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

James 1:26 NKJV

26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

Galatians 5:15 NKJV

15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

Matthew 15:2 NKJV

2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

Matthew 15:18–20 NKJV

18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

YOU WILL BE MINDFUL OF THE WARNINGS OF THE SCRIPTURE. THERE IS A NEED TO BEWARE;

Ephesians 5:6 NKJV

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

WE WILL BE MINDFUL OF WHAT IS TRULY IMPORTANT TO GOD. THE PREVIOUS WORDS BEING THE MOST IMPORTANT HERE;

Ephesians 5:1–5 NKJV

1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Hebrews 3:12 NKJV

12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;

SOMETHING TO GUARD,

1 Timothy 6:20 NKJV

20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—

Hebrews 3:12 NKJV

12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;